Clock radio appliance and method therefore

ABSTRACT

A method for receiving messages in an appliance such as a clock radio modified to retrieve messages from a remote computer, converting the retrieved messages into corresponding audio messages, generating a wake up signal to the user at a selected time in the radio appliance, starting the delivery of the audio messages from a speaker in the radio appliance in response to the generated wake up signal, and receiving audible commands in the radio from the user to control delivery of the messages. In a first embodiment, these method steps are performed in the radio appliance and, in a second embodiment, a remote computer performs all of the messages except delivery of the audio messages and receiving audible commands which occur at the appliance. Where two or more appliances are used, audio commands can cause the delivery of messages to stop in one appliance and resume in another appliance.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/181,354 filed on Feb. 8, 2000entitled INTERNET APPLIANCE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to radio appliances and, moreparticularly, to clock radios.

[0004] 2. Statement of the Problem

[0005] The Internet has fostered a host of new technologies includingthose involving Internet appliances such as a cell phone adapted tointerconnect with the Internet.

[0006] Traditionally, it is common for a person to have a clock radiothat provides sounds to aid in sleep or in which to wake by. An exampleof such a clock radio is available from Sharper Image Design as a “CDRadio Alarm Clock with Sound Soother.” Most household bathrooms alsohave a radio and/or a shower radio such as that also available fromSharper Image Design sold as “AM/FM Digital Shower Companion.”

[0007] A need exists to adopt the clock radio, bathroom radio and/orshower radio into an Internet appliance for delivery of timelyinformation to the user in addition to the normal sleep and awakesounds, AM/FM programming, and time.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] A method is provided for receiving messages in an appliance suchas a clock radio, bathroom radio, or shower radio modified under theteachings of the present invention to retrieve messages from a remotecomputer, converting the retrieved messages into corresponding audiomessages, generating a wake up signal to the user at a selected time inthe radio appliance, starting the delivery of the audio messages from aspeaker in the radio appliance in response to the generated wake upsignal, and receiving audible commands in the radio from the user tocontrol delivery of the messages. In a first embodiment, these methodsteps are performed in primarily in components in the radio applianceand, in a second embodiment, a remote computer performs all of themessages except delivery of the audio messages and receiving audiblecommands which occur at the radio appliance. Where two or moreappliances are used, audio commands can cause the delivery of messagesto stop in one appliance and resume in another appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of the system of the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an individual appliance of thepresent invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing operation in one preferredembodiment.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of one embodimentof the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing programming the computer hub of thepresent invention.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the individualappliance of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 1. Overview

[0016] In FIG. 1, an overview of the present invention is set forth. Ina building structure 10 such as a house, a condo, or an apartment, thereis typically found a bedroom 20, a bath area 30, and an office area 40.FIG. 1 shows three separate Internet appliances of the present invention50, 60, and 70. Each of the Internet appliances 50, 60, and 70communicate with a remote computer system 80 located elsewhere in thebuilding 10 such as, for example, in the home office 40. Thecommunication occurs at least one of three ways: via telephone (orelectrical) lines 90 or wireless transmissions 100 or a network link110. In the preferred embodiment, the computer system 80 is a standardhome computer system having a CPU 82, a monitor 84 and a keyboard 86.These components 82, 84, and 86 are conventionally interconnected (notshown).

[0017] The appliance 50 of the present invention is a clock radio thatoperates to provide a wake up alarm to an individual sleeping in bed 22.Appliance 60 is used to provide information to the individual when usingthe bath area 30. Appliance 70 is used by the individual when taking ashower 32.

[0018] It is to be expressly understood that in the preferred embodimentthe communication between each appliance 50, 60, and 70 is with computersystem(s) 80 or any computing device having communication with theInternet over phone lines 90 or other suitable communication links suchas a DSL link, satellite, wireless, etc. Such communication could alsobe with another computer such as the individual's laptop, a hand-heldcomputer, a cell phone or a remote office computer or network.

[0019] 2. Appliance Block Diagram

[0020] In FIG. 2 is set forth the block diagram components of each ofthe different appliances 50, 60, and 70. These components are generallyreferred to as 200. Each appliance 50, 60, and 70 in a first embodimentincludes a computer 210, a radio 220, a speaker 230, memory 240, adata-to-audio converter 250, an input 260, and a display 270. Eachappliance 50, 60, and 70 may or may not include: a wireless component280, a phone (electrical) interconnection 290, a network card, etc. Eachof the components are discussed next.

[0021] In FIG. 2, the wireless communication module 280 can comprise anyof a number of conventional approaches including a module 280 basedupon, for example, Bluetooth technology. Or, conventional RF technologycan be used to communicate data signals from the hub 80 to appliances50, 60 and 70. The wireless module 280 is connected over a conventionallink 282 with computer 210. In an alternate embodiment, rather thanusing a wireless module 280, a phone communication module 290 can beutilized to convey data signals through the phone outlet 90. Module 290could also be a conventional transmitter and receiver of coded signalsover standard household electrical wiring as found in many burglar alarmsensors. Indeed module 290 can also be any suitable communication devicethat can be hard-wired 90 to the computer hub 80 such as a network, etc.

[0022] The radio 220 and the speaker 230 are conventional and exist inmany prior art clock radios. The same is true of display 270 whichdisplays time, radio dial setting, etc.

[0023] A memory 240 is provided wherein the computer 210 conventionallystores and retrieves data and the memory 240 includes other types ofmemory such as memory containing programs, etc. that the computer 210utilizes.

[0024] The data-to-audio converter is any conventionally availablemodule 250 that converts data to the spoken voice. In the preferredembodiment, the computer 210 delivers data over link 252 to thedata-to-audio converter 250 to generate sound to speaker 230 such asthrough connection 234.

[0025] Finally, input module 260 is connected to the computer 210 overlink 262 to provide input from the user of the appliance 50, 60 or 70. Anumber of conventionally available software/hardware packages areavailable for use in computer 210 which performs the function of thedata-to-audio module 250.

[0026] It is to be expressly understood that a wide variety ofconventional components can be utilized under the method herein and thatthe invention is not limited to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] 3. Appliance Operation

[0028] In operation, a user sleeping in bed 225 is awakened in aconventional fashion by the clock radio features in the appliance 50.The wake-up signaling is delivered by the computer 210 to the wirelessmodule 280 for transmission to the hub 80 as shown in FIG. 3 in step300. The wake-up signaling can occur prior to the wake-up time, duringthe wake-up time or just after the wake-up time. The computer hub 80 instep 310 retrieves the desired messages from a message source such as,for example, the Internet in a conventional fashion. These messages canbe grouped such as e-mail messages, reports on certain stocks, calendarappointments during the day, call-in messages, etc. The retrieveddesired messages can be any suitable message which the user throughinput 86 at the hub 80 pre-programs the computer:2 to receive upon theissuance of the wake up signal 300. The computer:2 can be programmed toretrieve the messages from a message source at a desired time beforewake-up (e.g., two hours before wake-up). The computer 80 can thenorganize the messages into groups and ready the groups for delivery tothe appliance such as in response to the wake-up signal or to an audiblecommand received in the appliance by the user. In a variation, themessages can be retrieved and organized in response to the wake-upsignal from the appliance which is also delivered to the remote computer80. Hence, steps 310 and 320 can be performed in any order. Thesemessages can be automatically delivered back to the computer 210 in theappliance 50 or played back as an audio sound through speaker 230 inwhich case the data is transformed into a comparable audio signal. Or,an activation from the person in the bed 22 can occur such as pushing abutton (not shown) at input 260 or issuing a voice command to microphone292. Indeed, in some embodiments the microphone 292 is incorporated intothe speaker 230. Hence, in stage 330 the messages are delivered to theappliance 50. The messages are played in stage 340 in response to aninput signal such as a spoken command to the microphone 292 such as theword “messages.” Or the activation of a button or any other suitableinput device 260. Or, as mentioned, stage 340 doesn't exist and thedelivered messages in stage 330 are automatically played in stage 350.In stage 350, the messages are played, as mentioned, through the dataaudio module 250 and into the speaker 230. The person lying in bed 22can listen to e-mail messages, hear appointments scheduled for the day,hear critical stock information, or any other suitable special message.

[0029] Indeed, stage 340 can be more sophisticated than described above.For example, a particular grouping of messages can be played in responseto a voice command such as “e-mail”, “stock”, “appointments”, etc. Thenonly a special category of messages are played corresponding to theaudible command. Also in stage 340, additional commands such as “stop”,“continue”, “repeat”, “skip,” etc. can be utilized to control thedelivery of the messages through the speaker 230. As an illustration, anindividual e-mail message can be repeated by saying the command “repeat”or the whole group of e-mail messages can be started over by saying thecommand “repeat e-mail.” Or, the user can audibly command the applianceto “sleep” and the appliance 50 by computer 210 resets and lets the usersleep for a period of time before waking again. In which case, the hubcomputer is signaled to stop delivery of the messages.

[0030] For example, if the person in bed 22 issues a vocal STOP command,the messages are stopped and the person can move from bedroom area 20into the bath area 30. In the bath area 30, the user can issue a vocalcommand CONTINUE and continue receiving the messages left off fromappliance 50 now in appliance 60. In appliance 60, all of the featuresdiscussed above can be incorporated. Hence, the user has discretion onsome days to hear some of the messages or all of the messages in bed 22or none of the messages or the remaining messages in bath area 30. Thesame discretion occurs with the shower radio in the shower 30.

[0031] It is observed that the present invention by using appliances 50,60 and/or 70 can provide a wide variety of operating conditions. In oneembodiment, only the appliance 50 is used. Or, only the appliance 60 isused. Or, only the appliance 70 is used. In preferred embodiments, atleast two of the three appliances are used, preferably appliance 50 and60. In one embodiment, all three appliances are utilized.

[0032] It is to be expressly understood that many variations arepossible under the teachings of the present invention other than thoseset forth above. A wide variety of commands, groups, and messages can beprovided and utilized to specifically address a user's unique desires inorder to get ready for the upcoming day's events.

[0033] 4. Appliance Handoff

[0034] In FIG. 4, the “handoff” among the appliances 50, 60 and 70 isset forth in one embodiment. In FIG. 4, appliance 50 in time plays themessage in response to a START command and stops the messages inresponse to a STOP command. The user enters the bath area 30 and statesCONTINUE and the computer hub 80 detects the audible CONTINUE commandcoming from appliance 60. This identifies appliance 60 as the newappliance to which messages are to be delivered. This occurs because themicrophone 292 in appliance 60 senses the command CONTINUE, delivers itto its computer 210 which in turn delivers the command through wirelessmodule 280 to the computer hub 80. The computer hub 80 then continues toplay the messages in appliance 60. In addition, when the user issues aSTOP command, appliance 60 stops and the computer 80 senses the STOPcommand and ceases the play of the messages in appliance 60. When theuser enters the shower 32 and the user states PLAY, the appliance 70,through its microphone 292 and its computer 210, delivers a CONTINUEcommand through wireless module 280 to computer hub 80 and the messagesare resumed for play in the shower. The user, of course, under theteachings of the present invention, can select which appliance in whichorder in which to communicate with the hub computer 80.

[0035] It is to be expressly understood that appliances 50, 60 and 70can occur throughout the building 10. Hence, suitable appliances can befound in the kitchen, garage, etc. In yet another embodiment, many ofthe control components in FIG. 2 are performed in computer 82 so thateach Internet appliance 50, 60 and 70 are less “smart.”

[0036] 5. Pre-programming Hub Computer

[0037] In FIG. 5, the preferred programming of the hub 80 occurs withthe user logging into the computer 82 and starting the programmingprocess. A suitable screen is presented on the monitor 84 and the steps510, 520, 530, 540 can occur in any fashion desired by the user simplyby clicking on the suitable icon. In stage 510, the user selects whichmessages are to be played upon wake-up. In the preferred embodimentwhere the system responds to a voice command, the messages can begrouped so that they are played in response to a voice command such as“e-mail,” “stock,” “appointments,” etc. For example, in stage 510, theuser may select appointments and stock quotes and, then in stage 520train the hub 80 to recognize the voice command for appointments andstock. For example, the voice command for appointments could be simplythe word “today” or the word “appointments” or any other suitable vocalcommand. Assume, for example, the command chosen is “today” forappointment messages and the command “rich” is the audible command forthe stock messages. It is well known how to train a voice recognitionprogram to recognize vocal commands especially simple vocal commandsthat have distinct vocal patterns. Hence, in this example, the command“today” will be associated with the group of appointments for that dayand the computer hub 80 can assemble those appointments from anysuitable source such as a laptop, palm computer, Internet connection tothe remote office computer, etc. With respect to the vocal command“rich” the user must enter stock symbols so that the hub computer 80 canretrieve the present stock values of the stock symbols chosen which arealso conventionally available from a number of different sources.

[0038] One area critical to the user can be a top priority list groupingwhere messages from different groups are collected together. These aremessages of great importance to the user and are tagged as such. Anexample of such top priority messages could be: “my 10^(th)anniversary,” “call Peggy tonight at 8:00 p.m.,” etc. And, the commandcould be “Top Priority.”

[0039] In another example, the user may only wish to hear e-mail andappointments and, in stage 510, selects those messages. The voicecommands in this example are “appointments” and “e-mail.” In stage 520,the computer is trained to recognize these commands so it is to beunderstood that in some embodiments, the training can occur at theactual appliance 50, 60 and 70 wherein the user speaks into themicrophone 292. Returning to the example, the user may also voice trainthe hub computer 80 in stage 520 to recognize the command “skip” (or anysuitable voice command) so that if an e-mail message is too long, theuser can command “skip” and the next e-mail is read. Additional voicecommands can be used to increase the volume for the voice for themessages by stating “louder” or “softer.” Or, the user can train thecommand “stop” and no more e-mail would be read. A wide variety ofmessages and voice commands can be selected in stage 510 and trained instage 520.

[0040] An optional stage 530 is provided wherein the user can selectfrom a variety of voices for reading the messages. For example a softfemale's voice, a robotic sounding voice, a masculine sounding deepvoice, etc. All can be selected and changed at any time. In addition, inoptional stage 540, a background sound can also be selected. Thisbackground sound can be music (or other sounds) preprogrammed at the hub80 or it can be actual voice or sound from the appliance 50, 60, or 70.Indeed, the hub computer 80 can be programmed such as in stage 540 toselect an Internet radio station to provide the sound to the appliances50, 60, and 70 as well as the wake-up alarm (if required), etc. Theretrieval and conversion of the messages can occur in the hub 80 so thatit is delivered into the radio speaker directly. This would simplify theconstruction of appliances 50, 60, and 70 and utilize the Internet radioselection and clock in the hub 80. For example, each appliance couldsimply be a speaker/microphone (230, 292) and an I/O driver transceiver(280, 290) with the hub 80 performing all the remaining functions (i.e.,wake-up time, wake-up sound, radio selection, etc.) When the user isdone programming the hub computer 80, the user exits in stage 550. Sucha second embodiment 600 is shown in FIG. 6. The appliance 600 has theI/O transceiver 610 is wireless 650 communication with the hub computer80. The transceiver 610 is connected to computer 660 and memory 670. Thecomputer controls the microphone/speaker 620 through digital/audioconverter 630 and receives commands over audio/digital converter 660.

[0041] It is to be expressly understood that a wide variety ofpre-programming can be done by a user under the teachings of the presentinvention and that the scope of the invention is not limited by theexamples and variations set forth above.

[0042] 6. Summary of Method

[0043] A method is provided for receiving messages in an appliance suchas a clock radio modified under the teachings of the present inventionto retrieve messages from a hub computer, converting the retrievedmessages into corresponding audio messages, generating a wake up signalto the user at a selected time in the radio appliance, starting thedelivery of the audio messages from a speaker in the radio appliance inresponse to the generated wake up signal, and receiving audible commandsin the radio from the user to control delivery of the messages. In afirst embodiment, these method steps are performed in the radioappliance and, in a second embodiment, a remote computer performs all ofthe messages except delivery of the audio messages and receiving audiocommands which occur at the appliance. Where two or more appliances areused, audio commands can cause the delivery of messages to stop in oneappliance and resume in another appliance.

[0044] In one variation of the method of the present invention, the userselects groups of messages in the hub computer in order to tailor thegrouping of messages to the individual's desired needs. The hub computerthen obtains each group of messages from a message source whether themessage source resides in the hub computer, accessing a remote officecomputer over the Internet or other communication network, accessingmessage sources on the Internet or other communication links. Themessage group can be appointments, stock information, retrievedmessages, top priority messages selected from among the various groups,or any desired grouping of messages and prioritization. The method ofthe present invention in another variation includes the option ofdelivering the background audio sound in each appliance while themessage is being delivered. In another variation, the audible commandscan include stopping, skipping, repeating, or continuing a message or agroup of messages.

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, the method shiftsdeliveries of the groups of messages or messages based upon audiblecommands by the user from one appliance to another appliance. When afirst appliance is delivering messages to the user, the receipt of anaudible command to stop delivery is sensed and delivered to the hubcomputer which stops delivery. When the user issues a second audiblecommand to the second appliance, the second appliance senses this anddelivers it to the hub computer which identifies the second appliance toresume delivery of the messages.

[0046] It is to be expressly understood that under the method of thepresented herein, that the use of certain terminology such as “hubcomputer” is not intended to limit the invention to a particular type ofcomputer. The term “hub” could be remote, central, home, etc. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is typically a home computer located in aphysical house in communication proximity to the appliances 50, 60, and70.

[0047] The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of thepresent invention. Those skilled in this art will however appreciatethat other arrangements or embodiments, not precisely set forth, couldbe practiced under the teachings of the present invention and that thescope of this invention should only be limited by the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. A method for receiving messages in a radio appliance, saidmethod comprising the steps of: retrieving messages at a hub computer,generating a wake-up signal to the user at a selected time in the radioappliance, delivering the retrieved messages from the hub computer intothe radio appliance for audio delivery to the user, receiving audiblecommands at the radio appliance from the user to control the audibledelivery of the delivered messages.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein thestep of retrieving comprises the steps of: selecting groups of messagesin the hub computer by the user, obtaining in the hub computer eachgroup of messages from a message source for each said group.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the message group is e-mail and the messagesource is the Internet
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the messagegroup is appointments.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the messagegroup is stock information and the message source is the Internet. 6.The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering the retrievedmessages includes delivering a background audio sound.
 7. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the audible commands include at least commands forstopping, skipping, repeating, continuing a message or a group ofmessages.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the audible command is asleep command so as to reset the hub computer and radio appliance toregenerate a wake-up signal at a later time.
 9. The method of claim 2wherein one of the groups is a top priority group which selects messagesfrom one or more of the remaining groups.
 10. A method for receivingmessages in at least two appliances, said method comprising the stepsof: retrieving messages at a hub computer, delivering the retrievedmessages from the remote computer into the first appliance for audiodelivery to a user, receiving a first audible command from the user atthe first appliance to stop delivery of the delivered messages, stoppingdelivery of the delivered messages in the first appliance in response tothe received first audible command, receiving a second audible commandfrom the user at the second appliance, continuing audio delivery of anyremaining messages at the second appliance in response to the receivedsecond audible command.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step ofretrieving comprises the steps of: selecting groups of messages in thehub computer, obtaining each group of messages from a message source foreach said group.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the message group ise-mail and the message source is the Internet
 13. The method of claim 11wherein the message group is appointments.
 14. The method of claim 11wherein the message group is stock information and the message source isthe Internet.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of deliveringaudio messages includes delivering a background audio sound.
 16. Themethod of claim 11 wherein the audible commands include at leastcommands for stopping, skipping, repeating, and continuing a message ora group of messages.
 17. A method for receiving messages in a radioappliance, said method comprising the steps of: selecting groups ofmessages in a hub computer, obtaining each group of messages from amessage source for each said group at the hub computer, generating awake-up signal to the user at a selected time in the radio appliance,receiving at least one audible command at the radio appliance from theuser for one of the groups, controlling the delivery of the groups ofmessages from the hub computer to the radio appliance in response to thereceived at least one audible command, playing audio messages to theuser in the radio appliance in response to the step of controlling.